How do Miao people spend the traditional festival Miao Year?

Miao year is the Miao people's own age, and the time of Miao year varies from place to place. In most areas, it is "the beginning of the year is in winter and March, and each is one of them." The beginning of a year is the beginning of every year, which means the New Year in China. Some are in October, others are in winter or December. In recent years, the vast majority of Miao people celebrate the Spring Festival in the first month, but the customs and habits of Miao people have not changed. Chinese New Year is the biggest festival, so we should prepare rich food, such as killing pigs, bacon, cooking rice, fried rice, and killing chickens to worship our ancestors, so as to "spend our old age safely", open the door of wealth and worship the God of the Year, and rest from the first day of junior high school to the fifteenth day of winter solstice. During this period, traditional entertainment activities will be held, which are translated into Chinese as "stepping on the flower mountain", "jumping on the field ridge", "jumping on the moon" and "eating a family banquet". The entertainment activities during the Spring Festival in western Hunan are called "Catch the Year", which mainly include swinging, lion dancing, playing with dragon lanterns and singing lanterns.

Second, the Hundred Lions Club

The most interesting folk activity in Miao Year is the Hundred Lions Club. Nearly a hundred or dozens of lions danced in the surrounding villages and towns, gathered in traditional villages or market towns, beating gongs and drums, swinging spears and shooting guns, and simply turned the world upside down. There are quite a few famous performances of the Hundred Lions Club, such as welcoming lions, dancing lions, measuring lions, catching lions and climbing lions. They are simple and rich in Miao customs, hiding profound cultural heritage.

Miao people's love for lion dance is related to ancient legends and soil white. According to legend, during the flood period, demons ran rampant and harmed Miaoshan. A group of golden lions ran out of the forest to drive away the demons that devoured cattle, sheep and crops, and let the Miao family enjoy peace again. Later, the cunning devil came up with a poisonous trick, asking the witch to lure the lions into the rough East China Sea with colorful hydrangeas. Yaguo, a brave descendant of Miao nationality, braved difficulties and obstacles, waded through mountains and rivers to save the villagers from suffering, finally picked up the hydrangea floating on the waves, brought the auspicious lion back to Miaoshan again, and wiped out the evil monsters. Miao people happily rushed to Zhaitou to meet the auspicious golden lion and beat drums. Since then, there has been a "Hundred Lions Club" in Miao Township.

Myth is a reflection of life. The primitive and savage sunshine shines today through the clouds of history. The "Hundred Lions Club" is actually a great migration of ancient Miao people. "Migration Ballad" sings: "Our ancestors crossed 99 streams in the East China Sea and walked with great strides ..." Those monsters refer to a natural disaster in Lu Yu.

The time of the Hundred Lions Club is mostly after the third day of the first month of the Spring Festival. Hundreds of lions danced wildly and went door to door to pay New Year greetings to the Miao family.

When the lion enters the room, the clever host follows the custom: put a small square table, a washbasin and a white towel at the door, which not only welcomes the lion, but also tests whether it is smart and flexible. Lions certainly understand the good of their master's family. On the first day of New Year's Day, he washed away all the dust before paying New Year's greetings. Lohan Xiaomi, who threw the hydrangea, took the initiative to pick up a white towel to "wash his face" for the lion. The host family was happy, so they removed the square table and panels and let the lion prance into the house. Some Miao families have more eyes; Three doors in front of the main room were opened at the same time, and the main room was drawing a turtle, drinking a bowl of wine in the middle, offering sacrifices to heaven and drinking a bowl. After finishing these routines in one breath, the lion can stand on the table, jump up and bite off the "red seal" hanging on the ceiling, and shake his head and tail to pay tribute to his host's house. Then exit the gate and find another home.

The Miao flavor of "Rock" is stronger. The door of the host's house was open, the wax was shaken, and red silk was hung in front of the hall, which was put aside as a "seal". The male host stood by the door with silk handkerchief wrapped around his waist and leggings. When the lion jumped in with its head held high and its tail wagged, it roared, grabbed the lion's beard, raised its head and asked loudly, "Where are you from, lion?" "Lion" is of course very flexible, and quickly replied: "Lion, I come from the East!" The host did not give up and continued to explore: "Is the East coming by water or by land?" This can't beat a lion. He shook his head, broke free from his master's house and roared, "Lion, I am walking in the clouds!" " ! Seeing that the lion could not be defeated, the master was anxious and asked, "Lion, what did you bring?" ? The lion smiled and replied, "I brought Daji to Li Lei!" " The host's face lit up and asked, "Lion, where are you going?" "? The lion naturally replied, "I'm going to the west." The host asked, "Lion, what are you taking?" "? "lion" simply replied: "I am willing to bear disasters and plagues"! The auspicious blessing made the host very happy, flashing and calling: "Pill! Maru! " (Miao language is good! ) The lion jumped into the first room, took off the seal of HongLing, paid a New Year greeting to his master, and then left quickly. In Miao township, if the lion dances without extraordinary martial arts, he will not only be rewarded, but also be laughed at, because the lion will jump into the ring of fire, jump off the table and stand in the air. Without excellent skills, he will never be rewarded.

Compared with the height of the lion stool, jumping on the table to get the reward is simply a drop in the bucket. Thirty-six square tables overlap on the open flat, like a steep hill. As usual, there is a small square table on it. In the loud sound of gongs and drums, the exciting lion dance began, and the leaping lion followed the Boxer who was playing tricks on the treasure and quickly jumped onto the table. The boxer blew his horn when the lion climbed to the top of the table tower. The "lion" stepped on four feet of a small square table and performed a thrilling stunt of hanging rings. First, the lion's head dances east, west, north and south, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. Then, jump "the eagle spreads its wings" on the top of the wooden pole; Or the lion dancer stands upside down on the steel blade to "cook fish to support the sky". The most wonderful trick is called "carp hitting the beach". The lion roared several times, jumped down from the table and landed firmly on the Tu Ping. Not a lion dancer with high martial arts dares to try this trick easily.

Third, solitaire

Miao family solitaire can be divided into big village solitaire and family solitaire. The two activities are just different in scale and the process is basically the same. "Solitaire" is mostly held at dawn, and the ceremony is grand and lively. The hall of the new house is covered with lights and candles. As soon as the bamboo pole is spread out, five pieces of colored cloth and colored paper shine.

Fourth, have a family meal.

The most interesting thing about Miao Year is "eating a family meal". Miao nationality is a hospitable nation. For thousands of years, Miao people have observed such a rule: no matter which family comes to the same village, no matter how many guests there are, all households in the village should take turns to invite them, do their best and entertain them warmly. Invited guests must never refuse under an excuse, otherwise it will be considered contempt. Guests don't have to bring any gifts when they accept the invitation, and they can't leave home until every household has eaten. Miao people call their way of entertaining guests "farming", which literally translates into "eating a family's meal". A village with a large number of households and a long stay has a high reputation for eating "family meals". Not only do people listen to everything they say, but it is much easier for young people to find a partner than in other villages.

Anyone who has read Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Garden is deeply attracted by such a description: "When you see a fisherman, invite him back to his hometown and kill the chicken with wine." Because of this special hospitality, the fisherman had to stay in Taohuayuan for a few days before resigning.

If you want to fulfill the fisherman's wish, Miaoshan is the Peach Blossom Garden!

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Fourth, Miao Dao ladder

Climbing ladders is a traditional custom of Miao nationality. Whenever there are festivals or major folk festivals, there are samurai performing ladder climbing. The knife ladder is equipped with a wooden pole 10 meters high. Thirty-six steel knives were cut on the pole. The steel knife is one foot and five inches long, the back of the knife is 0.5 to 1 cm thick, and the blade is sharp and upward. They are assembled into a knife ladder and fastened with bolts. One foot and one ladder is thirty-six knives. Stains are fixed around the pile, and flags of various colors are tied to the upper end of the knife ladder, symbolizing hope and victory. Those who climb up must have courage, skill and martial arts. Climb up from the first level, the knife is sharper than one, climb to the top of the ladder and send the knife for a while, that is, break it in two. Climbers will perform programs such as hanging gold hooks upside down, Dapeng spreading its wings, Guanyin sitting on lotus, and packing ancient trees. Show all your skills on the knife ladder. Going up the knife ladder is a thrilling performance, a heroic act and a manifestation of Miao people's past life. There is blood and sweat, sweetness and beauty. The audience were all amazed.